Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) Reviews

Name: Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA)
Brand: Quest Software
Rating: 4.4 (39 reviews)

4.4 out of 5

39 reviews
95% willing to recommend

464 followers

What is Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA)?

Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance is a comprehensive endpoint and service desk management platform. It supports IT operations with functionalities such as ticketing, patch management, software deployment, and asset management.

Get the Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) Buyer's Guide and find out what your peers are saying about Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA), Microsoft Intune, Microsoft Configuration Manager and more!

Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) is the #7 ranked solution in top Endpoint Compliance solutions, #10 ranked solution in top Patch Management solutions, and #14 ranked solution in top Configuration Management solutions. PeerSpot users give Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) an average rating of 8.8 out of 10. Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) is most commonly compared to Microsoft Intune: Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) vs Microsoft Intune. Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 55% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a university, accounting for 12% of all views.

Buyer's Guide

Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA)

January 2025

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Helped 831,683 peers since 2012

Featured reviews

Michael (Mikey) Wright

Systems Administrator at Custom Truck One Source

My favorite features are the feature build update and managed installations. Using the Windows feature build update means that instead of having to do things manually or set it up through a WSUS-type environment, you can easily download the package into the K1000. From there, you can culture and cater to it and then set it up by smart labeling. Or, you can completely automate the process to where, as it checks in, you can set those intervals. You don't have to be an advanced user. Rather, in terms of ease of use, this product is right where it needs to be. It's easy enough where a layman can do a lot of basic stuff, but it's advanced enough such that you've got to have some knowledge of what you're doing, otherwise it's just not going to work as well as you need it to. It's right on par with where it needs to be.

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Shailesh Naidu

Sr. Systems Engineer at a university with 1,001-5,000 employees

The solution definitely saves us time. We try to do bulk patching, whereas before, we did manual patching. We used to have four people putting in 40 hours, and now we have one person doing it in 16 hours. That's quite a savings. In addition, it has increased IT productivity. With one person responsible for installing patches, we have freed up the other three people to take more ownership of our applications. If I had to work on patching on a manual basis, that would be the only thing I'd be doing. But because this is all automated and scripted very well, I can use my time for other projects.

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Arlene Seale

Database Administrator at Department of National Defence - Canada

All of the features are valuable. We find everything we're using very valuable because they increase security and efficiency. It is excellent in terms of updating and configuring everything the way we need. For anything more complex, we do professional service engagements, and they're exceptional. For anything less complex, we just need to ask questions. Their support division is extremely good too. If we have any issues, we've had great success with their professional services team and their support team. Their technical support is excellent. They're very responsive and fast. Within an hour of initiating a support request, we've got somebody on it.

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Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) mindshare

Product category:

As of January 2025, the mindshare of Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) in the Configuration Management category stands at 4.5%, up from 3.4% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Configuration Management

PeerAnalyst reports

Type	Title	Date
Category	Configuration Management	Jan 27, 2025	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	Jan 27, 2025	Download
Comparison	Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) vs Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform	Jan 27, 2025	Download
Comparison	Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) vs Microsoft Intune	Jan 27, 2025	Download
Comparison	Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) vs Microsoft Configuration Manager	Jan 27, 2025	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
Microsoft Intune	4.1	11.9%	93%	235 interviews Add to research
Microsoft Configuration Manager	4.1	14.6%	90%	81 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) is valuable for asset management, ease of software deployment, and efficient patch management. Users highlight the integration with Bomgar, the help desk, and scripting capabilities. It offers dynamic reporting, inventory management, and mass image deployment. The single pane of glass simplifies endpoint management and ensures compliance. Users find it cost-effective, user-friendly, and highly customizable, improving productivity and enabling streamlined IT operations across large networks.

"Overall, I rate the solution ten out of ten."
"The initial setup is relatively easy."
"KACE automatically tracks this information and saves it for me, allowing me to call it up on the dashboard. For example, if I need to find Juliano's computer in the system, I don't need to search through endless spreadsheets. I just search for "Juliano" in KACE. KACE also lists other details like the last login user."

Room for Improvement

Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance needs improvements in imaging performance, application updates, and ease of use for non-experts. Patch management and license compliance present challenges. Users report issues with scalability, dashboard modifications, integration with Microsoft updates, and reporting functionalities. The interface customization and auto-refresh timing require enhancements. Sales tactics and documentation clarity are areas of concern. Users desire better automation for software asset management and more intuitive scripting and management features.

"The user interface needs improvement as customers have mentioned they do not like the interface since it is not an SMA-based interface and lacks a manual configuration option."
"Easier integration would be beneficial."
"We had issues with the tool's support. We are a Dutch firm and everything has to be in Dutch. We were not able to do the alerts. You were required to tweak them a lot to get them in the language that you preferred. The solution's support depended on the person that you got online. Sometimes, the response was fast and other times you needed to wait a long time. The support also depended on the levels of support that you had requested."

ROI

Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance significantly enhances productivity, allowing companies to save time and streamline operations. It is reported to reduce workloads and increase efficiency by simplifying patch management and scripting tasks. Organizations experience substantial manpower savings, faster software deployment, and reduced need for manual interventions. Some users note a remarkable ROI within a short period, highlighting ease of use and automation as critical factors in improving IT staff productivity and decreasing operational costs.

Pricing

Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) is competitively priced, with licensing based on the number of devices. While costs can be higher for smaller companies, enterprise users find the pricing justifiable given the robust functionality, including asset management and security patching. Licensing is straightforward, without hidden fees, and is priced per endpoint. Annual technical support fees exist, and potential savings can be realized if additional IT services are implemented without extra costs.

"It is expensive in Brazil."
"The product is reasonably priced."
"Some of the other solutions were just astronomical in price compared with KACE and didn't necessarily have the ease of use either. So, we chose Quest KACE for its easy-to-use features and cost."

Popular Use Cases

Organizations primarily use Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance as a ticketing system and for patch management, software deployment, and endpoint management. They rely on it for inventory and asset management. It aids in cybersecurity compliance, report generation, and manages large-scale device networks. They find value in its ability to deploy updates and patches, maintain software accuracy, and manage thousands of endpoints efficiently across various industries such as IT, education, healthcare, and banking.

Service and Support

Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance possesses a notable reputation for responsive and knowledgeable customer support. Their team is praised for being prompt, skilled, and offering effective resolutions quickly. Customers acknowledge minimal issues, with support consistently providing helpful guidance even for complex queries. They value the ability to access knowledgeable representatives, who address raised concerns efficiently. While some note minor delays, Quest’s premier and regular support options ensure timely assistance and have a positive influence on customer satisfaction.

Deployment

Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance's initial setup experiences varied. Some organizations found it straightforward with helpful guides, videos, and support. Others faced challenges, mentioning complex processes and time-consuming configurations. Professional services and vendor assistance eased deployment for some, while others navigated restrictions in network settings. Installation time ranged from hours to weeks, depending on the environment's complexity. Many appreciated the ease of use once familiarized, despite initial complications.

Scalability

Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) is perceived by users as highly scalable, accommodating diverse needs and numerous devices, efficiently growing with companies through licensing adaptations. Organizations find it seamless to manage thousands of devices, praising its flexibility in expanding capacities without significant issues. They appreciate not needing extensive hardware changes and successfully utilizing virtual environments. Although scalability is noted as excellent, some express concern about potential limits when scaling to larger infrastructures.

Stability

Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance is widely recognized for its stability. Users have reported minimal downtime, with only occasional minor issues typically linked to external factors or improper management. Technical support is prompt in addressing any concerns, ensuring quick resolution. Over the years, Quest KACE has maintained performance, even during upgrades, exhibiting robust reliability across varied environments. Most find it to be a dependable and consistent tool for managing their operations effectively.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers

By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

12%

University

12%

Financial Services Firm

10%

Government

10%

Educational Organization

Non Profit

Manufacturing Company

Retailer

Construction Company

Healthcare Company

Energy/Utilities Company

Real Estate/Law Firm

Performing Arts

Insurance Company

Comms Service Provider

Media Company

Outsourcing Company

Wholesaler/Distributor

Hospitality Company

Legal Firm

Mining And Metals Company

Pharma/Biotech Company

Recreational Facilities/Services Company

Logistics Company

Transportation Company

Compare Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) with alternative products

Learn more about Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA)

KACE provides robust automation for managing software distribution and patch tasks. Organizations depend on it for security updates, system compliance, and centralized control over diverse devices. Integration with tools like Bomgar and ServiceNow enhances its remote support capabilities, while its intuitive interface streamlines IT processes, increasing productivity. Managing thousands of endpoints, it supports accreditation compliance and reports on system status and security.

What are the key features of Quest KACE SMA?

Automation: Streamlines software deployment and patch management.
Asset Management: Offers comprehensive inventory controls.
Integration: Compatible with Bomgar and ServiceNow for enhanced remote support.
System Deployment: SDA simplifies deployment across multiple machines.
Intuitive Interface: Facilitates IT task management from a single pane.

What benefits and ROI should users look for?

Increased Productivity: Simplifies IT tasks, optimizing resources.
Centralized Control: Manages a wide range of devices from one interface.
Security Compliance: Ensures systems are updated and compliant.
Enhanced Support: Improved remote support through integrations.
Reporting Capabilities: Provides insights into IT operations and status.

Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance is implemented across industries needing robust IT management solutions such as healthcare for compliance and security, education for asset tracking, and corporate enterprises for efficient IT operations. Its multifunctional nature caters to diverse industry requirements, enhancing communication and data management.

Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) was previously known as Dell KACE Systems Management.